Match Report: South Shields 0-1 Hebburn Town

A late goal from Will McCamley proved the difference as Hebburn Town edged a tight pre-season encounter with South Shields on Tuesday.

A game of few chances was settled by a McCamley volley eight minutes before the end, with some superb late goalkeeping from substitute Matty Bateman helping Hebburn get over the line.

In Shields' third game of pre-season, manager Julio Arca opted to make nine changes to the team which started the 4-3 defeat against Sunderland three days earlier, and the new-look side began on the back foot.

Dean Briggs had an effort deflected wide, Amar Purewal saw a header ruled out for a push and former Shields midfielder Arron Thompson was denied by a superb fingertip stop from Myles Boney as the Hornets asserted some early pressure.

The hosts found a foothold with some bright periods of possession and Will Jenkins sent two long-range strikes over the bar, but there were few moments of goalmouth action at either end as the game remained goalless at half-time.

The Mariners picked things up in the early stages of the second half and had two quick opportunities, with Jordy Mongoy firing over from the right of the box and Sam Hodgson kept off the scoresheet by an impressive one-on-one save from Shaun Newbrook.

At the other end, Briggs skewed a shot wide from 20 yards, but most of the action was taking place in Hebburn's half. Mongoy went close again as he worked some space for himself in the area and saw his low drive well saved.

Paul Blackett's introduction from the bench added more tempo to Shields' play and he had a decent effort within a minute of being brought on as his acrobatic strike cleared the bar.

Martin Smith narrowly failed to connect with a Mackenzie Heaney corner but Shields needed to be alert at the other end and were indebted to a last-ditch challenge by Tom Broadbent with 15 minutes remaining.

The Mariners thought they had found the breakthrough with nine minutes left when Mongoy finished from close range after a well-worked free-kick routine, but the offside flag denied the frontman.

It proved to be a vital moment as Hebburn scored within a minute, with McCamley finishing well from a Ryan Hardie cross.

There were opportunities for Shields to force a leveller and the closest they came was a strike from Mongoy which was parried by Bateman to Joao Gomes, who was also thwarted by the substitute goalkeeper.

Blackett had a header saved and the Mariners almost equalised again a minute into stoppage time when a shot from 12 yards by a trialist was deflected just past the post.

Shields will aim to return to winning ways when they travel to Shildon in their latest pre-season outing on Saturday.

South Shields: Boney, Trialist (Lufudu 46), Adams (c) (Heaney 29), Morse (Broadbent 67), Marriott (Liddle 46), Trialist (Mongoy 46), Briggs (Trialist 67), Hodgson (Blackett 64), Jenkins (Gomes 64), Mottley-Henry (McGeorge 64), McGowan (Smith 46).

Attendance: 1,057.

Image: Kev Wilson.